Peer Advisors for Veteran Education (PAVE) is a peer support program that connects incoming student veterans on college campuses with student veterans who are trained as Peer Advisors who can help them navigate college life, address challenges they may face, refer them to appropriate resources on and off-campus, and provide ongoing support. PAVE builds on the camaraderie veterans experience in the military to create a sense of community and connectedness that contributes to academic and personal success.

Shelby Huerta

Shelby is an Air Force veteran and a senior studying Advertising and Public Relations. She spent 6 years with the Air Force in Aircrew Flight Equipment. Shelby eventually wants to work in motorsports in the communications department or PR. Aside from being a Peer Advisor, Shelby is also involved with the school’s GrandPR organization and is interning at the Career Center as an adult learners and alumni marketing intern. She spends her free time with her husband and 2 dogs going on hikes and watching Formula One races.

Justen Knape

Justen Knape, a Navy veteran, is currently working on a clinical doctorate in Audiology at GVSU. He spent 10 years in the Navy serving in the nuclear power and submarine communities. He went on 5 patrols with over a year underwater. Justen is currently a Navy reservist with intentions of returning to active duty as a doctor of Audiologu, providing hearing conversation and rehabilitation, balance, and tinnitus care.

Tabitha Vickery

Tabitha served in the AIr Force from 2017 to 2021 working in the Combat Plans Division of an Air Operations Center at Shaw AFB, SC. She completed one six-month deployment to Al Udeid AB, Qatar, where she served in the Joint Personnel Recovery Center, aiding in the coordination of any search and rescue forces being deployed in the middle east. Tabitha is a social work major and intends on pursuing a master’s degree in social work. When she is not working as an orthodondist assistant or in school, Tabitha enjoys hiking, traveling, being with her family, and going to concerts.

Samantha Hulen

Samantha served active duty in the Army for 6 years as a medic. After four years, Samantha was promoted to SGT. She was stationed in Ft. Stewart and Ft. Riley. Samantha is currenty a behavioral neuroscience major and is planning to attend PA school after graduation. She loves to spend her free time with animals. She has two cats, two horses, and Great Dane. She often travels to Belding and Saint Joseph to visit her horses.

Nathan Schragg

Nate served in the Navy from 2015-2021. He was an MMN on submarines. He is earning his Bachelors of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Illustration. When he has the chance, he likes to go scuba diving.

Evian Rodrigues

Evian Rodriguez was a 6492 Avionics Calibration Technician with the USMC from 2018-2023. He was deployed overseas as part of the NARF 21.2 (Northern African Response Force) and was attached to VMM-261 for this deployment. Growing up, he always wanted to become a U.S. Marine and one day a Registered Nurse. Evian's new goal is to gain acceptance into the GVSU Nursing program with Nursing as his primary major/agenda at Grand Valley. With his service ending in 2023, he and his family decided to move to Michigan to begin a new chapter of starting a family and new career. His hobbies include traveling and spending time with his wife, Siamese cat, and 1 year old daughter.

Kiera Dore

Kiera served in the USMC from 2016-2022 as a Ground Support Equipment Mechanic. She spent that majority of her enlistment in MCAS Iwakuni in Iwakuni, Japan. Kiera is a nursing major. She loves to spend her free time with her dog, a Border Collie named Chihiro. She will take any excuse to play board games or Dungeons and Dragons. 

Peer Advisors Not Pictured:

- Dave Wier

- Riley Matthews